Do you practice what you preach? Measuring coherence between sustainability promises and investment in Italian local entities

Purpose This study aims to investigate whether and to what extent mayors of Italian provincial capitals follow through on their electoral promises concerning sustainability. The emphasis on sustainability in their political programmes is compared with actual public spending allocated to sustainability issues. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a mixed-methods approach to develop a Coherence Index comparing per capita public sustainability spending to the number and specificity of sustainability-related promises. The analysis is framed within public choice theory, which views political behaviour as driven more by electoral incentives than genuine policy commitments. Findings The findings reveal a significant gap between sustainability-related political discourse and actual expenses. By comparing sustainability promises with per capita expenditure, municipalities are classified into four categories. Most municipalities fall into the rhetorical category, making broad sustainability promises without corresponding investments. A smaller group – labelled as reliable – aligns declared objectives and administrative action. Bold municipalities that make significant investments with little rhetorical emphasis are rare. A few entities remain inactive showing both limited discourse and low investment. Overall, the results suggest that sustainability is often used strategically as a narrative, while actual policy choices frequently reflect different priorities. Originality/value This study offers evidence of the consistency between political promises and administrative behaviour in the sustainability field. It highlights the strategic use of sustainability rhetoric at the beginning of a political mandate and limited institutional mechanisms to ensure political accountability. Valuable insights emerge for policymakers and scholars concerned with the effectiveness of local environmental governance and the credibility of political commitments.